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Toronto van attack: What we know so far

Details continue to emerge after a deadly attack in Toronto on Monday afternoon. Ten people were killed and 14 others injured when a man drove a rental van into people walking on a busy stretch of Yonge Street — between Finch and Sheppard avenues. Here’s what we know so far.

VICTIMS IDENTIFIED

One of the victims killed in the attack is Anne Marie D’Amico, an employee at Invesco, a U.S.-based investment management firm with offices at Yonge and Park Home Avenue.

She was one of the people taken to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, where she was pronounced dead. D’Amico had also worked with Tennis Canada and the Badminton and Racquet Club of Toronto.

Dorothy Sewell, 80, was confirmed to be one of the victims by her grandson, Elwood Delaney.

He released a statement to CityNews saying Dorothy was, “the best grandmother anyone could have asked for. Almost had as much love for the blue jays and leafs as she did for her family.”

Chul Min Kang, who goes by the name “Eddie,” was a chef at the Adelaide Street location of Copacabana.

Seneca College said a female student was among the dead as well.

The South Korean government confirmed two of its citizens died and one was seriously injured in the attack, according to the Yonhap News Agency. And the Jordanian embassy in Ottawa said one of its citizens was killed. Their identities have not been released.

The Jordanian embassy in Ottawa says one of its citizens was among 10 people killed when a van mounted a sidewalk and rammed into pedestrians in Toronto. The embassy would not provide further details.

Dr. Dirk Huyer, chief coroner for Ontario, said his office wouldn’t be able to positively confirm the identities of any of the victims for days.

SUSPECT CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

Police arrested Alek Minassian, 25, seven minutes after the first 911 call before 1:30 p.m. on Monday. Earlier, police said it was about half an hour between the call and the arrest.

The Richmond Hill resident appeared in court Tuesday morning and was charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and 13 counts of attempted murder. Det.-Sgt. Graham Gibson said police expect to lay a 14th charge of attempted murder.

Police said they previously believed 15 people had been injured, but that was a miscount.

Minassian is being held in custody.

A LinkedIn profile identified Minassian as a Seneca College student from 2011 to 2018, and described him as focused on computer science.

Facebook has confirmed that a widely circulated post that praises Elliot Rodger, who killed six people and then himself at the University of California in 2014, appears to have come from Minassian’s account, though it says it’s impossible to know who was using the account at the time the post was made.

Facebook has since deleted Minassian’s profile.

Minassian was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces for two months in 2017, Federal Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan confirmed. He trained as a recruit for 16 days before voluntary release, meaning he chose not to continue.

According to media reports, the officer is Const. Ken Lam, 43, who has worked with the Toronto Police Service for seven years.

“It’s one shining moment in an absolutely game-changing, abysmal, horrific day in the city of Toronto,” Toronto police union head Mike McCormack said. “The one … positive to take away from that day was (the officer’s) behaviour.”

MAKESHIFT MEMORIAL GROWS

A makeshift memorial was set up in Olive Square, a parkette at Yonge and Finch, just hours after the attack. It’s steps away from where the incident began.

People have been leaving flowers and candles and writing messages of support and condolence.

The Toronto sign at Nathan Phillips Square has been dimmed and the official flags at Toronto City Hall, all civic centres and Metro Hall are flying at half-mast.

Officials will work with supporting organizations, such as Victim Services Toronto, to coordinate efforts and to make sure the money is put toward helping those who need it most.

CLOSURES AND TTC SERVICE DISRUPTIONS

Yonge Street has reopened between Finch and Sheppard Avenues. Police said they are still in the area for the investigation and are asking people to continue to stay away for the next few days unless they live or work in the area.

PUBLIC ADVISORY: Yonge St – Sheppard Av to Finch Av-We also ask everyone to use caution as they travel in this area-There is a memorial service for those who have passed underway^dh